Stories for June 2003

Monday, June 30

Floaters urged to respect quiet zones

Sunday marked the return of Steamboat's commercial tubing fleet to the Yampa River. Operators were in a buoyant mood as they anticipated the return of revenues following a 2002 season wiped out by drought.

A new addition to Steamboat's art scene this summer, the artLine Shuttle, will take riders on a tour of Steamboat's art spots. The free shuttle will run every Thursday, leaving the Stockbridge Multi-Modal Transit Center at 11:30 am and circling through the tour route until 7:30 pm.

Franks sets new course record at Haymaker Golf Course

It hardly seems as if a year has passed since trucks and tractors draped in red, white and blue drove down Lincoln Avenue with men waving from the driver's seats, since the Perry-Mansfield dancers jazz-handed their way block by block through downtown and since a stream of smiling dogs in bandanas led their owners as part of the annual Fourth of July parade.

Sunday, June 29

The Senate began consideration of Congressman Scott McInnis', R-Grand Junction, "Healthy Forests Restoration" Act on June 26 with a legislative hearing by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestr

The Senate began consideration of Congressman Scott McInnis', R-Grand Junction, "Healthy Forests Restoration" Act on June 26 with a legislative hearing by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

You have 25 days to get in shape to climb a fourteener

Please consider this to be your personal invitation to attend my not-so-gala 50th birthday celebration. You have 25 days to prepare yourselves. And if your present level of athletic conditioning is no better than mine, you have some work to do.

You have 25 days to get in shape to climb a fourteener

Please consider this to be your personal invitation to attend my not-so-gala 50th birthday celebration. You have 25 days to prepare yourselves. And if your present level of athletic conditioning is no better than mine, you have some work to do.

Sweets abound at Advocates fund-raiser

Steamboat Springs resident Holly Rogers has attended the Decadent Desserts benefit for Advocates Against Battering and Abuse for the past three years, and she said this year's event at Catamount Ranch and Club was the best one yet.

Saturday, June 28

Early signs: Yampa River fish populations have survived the drought

Fishing guide Daren Mangiaracina took a couple from France down to the Yampa River in town Thursday and even though his clients had never fly-fished before, he got them into trout. Not just any fish, but one plump rainbow after another, all of them wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the logo "I survived the drought of 2003."

Parade, picnics involve 'just about everybody'

For the size of the event, Yampa's Fourth of July celebration is unusual because it is free from modern commercialism. There won't be any corporate-sponsored booths or floats in the parade. There won't be hundreds of tourists lining the streets. The celebration is made simply of the families who call South Routt home.

Home mortgage rates inched upward by a little more than an eighth of a point this week. For consumers contemplating borrowing $270,000 in a conventional 30-year mortgage, that could translate into an additional $20 on their monthly payment.

Elkhorn townhomes to be offered in $2M range

A new luxury slopeside development is pushing the market for what buyers are willing to pay for high-end townhomes. The five units -- a duplex and a triplex -- sitting under the gondola, below Bear Claw Condominiums and above Chateau Chamonix will be 4,200 square feet each and priced in the $2 million range.

Steamboat agents question savings

Consumers in the Yampa Valley can begin right away to take advantage of a change in Colorado law that will allow them to save up to 25 percent on their automobile insurance. But insurance agents are dubious about how real the savings are.

Planned developments could triple town's size

Lower rents help fill long-empty office, retail spaces

The abundance of vacant commercial properties in Steamboat Springs that existed a year ago has slowly dried up despite -- or perhaps as a result of -- an economy that continues to struggle, according to some in the commercial real estate community.

Income isn't chief concern for many new ranch owners

Five generations of Luanna Iacovetto's family have lived on the Saddleback Ranch property south of Milner. There have been times she and her husband thought about moving off of the property, she said, but they always changed their minds.

New developments expand opportunities in Stagecoach, Oak Creek

The major draws to South Routt County are the tightly-knit communities of Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Yampa and Toponas; the scenic views of the Flat Tops Mountain Range; and the area's affordability compared with Steamboat Springs or Vail.

The directions given in the Steamboat Springs Community Area Plan Update have the potential to shape real estate and development decision in the coming years. Focusing on issues such as land use, economic sustainability, historic preservation and growth management, the document will create planning policies for the city and county to follow.

Andrew Jon Van Treese, son of Tevis and Jon Van Treese of Peoria, Arizona, was born at 8:28 a.m. May 20, 2003. He weighed 8 pounds and was 21 inches long. His sibling is Taylor Rae. His grandparents are Raeanna and Jim Ellis of Steamboat Springs and the late Phyliss Van Treese of Speedway, Indiana.

Single-family home construction reached 10-year low in 2002

In the boom and bust boogie of the construction world, Steamboat is still adjusting to a change in tempo. Construction value dropped 18 percent in 2002 and first-quarter numbers for 2003 continued to decline by19 percent.

Early season price good through Aug. 18

Consultant says more study required on Sierra View impact

After the Oak Creek Town Board agreed two weeks ago to pay Mayor Cargo Rodeman to write grant proposals for $25 per hour up to 32 hours per month, the board received some criticism for that decision at Thursday night's meeting.

It's shaping up to be a busy summer at Steamboat Springs Middle School, where multiple improvement projects are under way and on schedule, according to Steamboat Springs School Dist-rict Facilities Director Rick Denney.

City planners open door to units, will stick to strict building guides

The city Planning Commission gave the go-ahead for a zoning change that would allow storage units near the city airport but said they would stick to tough architectural standards when the plan comes through again.

Mountain Lover, Corsican Violet among selections for Steamboat

Plant Select is a cooperative program of the Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension and the Green Industry. The program researches and evaluates plants, introducing new plants every year that do very well in Colorado gardens.

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and the Yampa Valley will be host to an array of events and festivities during the holiday. The following is a preliminary calendar of events happening in Steamboat Springs, Yampa, Hayden and Oak Creek during the holiday weekend.

Wednesday, June 25

Town wants review of impact study on planned 18-acre subdivision

In planning for the 18-acre Sierra View subdivision, which could bring 50 new homes to Oak Creek, Oak Creek officials want to ensure they are taking all the right steps, so they are hiring a consultant to review an impact study by the subdivision developers and iron out the details of a pre-annexation agreement be-tween the developers and the town, Oak Creek Mayor Cargo Rodeman said.

Junior instructional camp takes place at Sheraton golf club

Ten-year-old Shaq Torrella got a high-five from instructor Troy Weller after placing his putt within a couple of inches of a target Wednesday afternoon at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Golf Club's practice green.

Tuesday, June 24

Town votes to support amendment of healthy forest act

The Hayden Town Board voted 3-1 Thursday night to support the Colorado Environmental Coali-tion's efforts to amend the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives and soon to go before the Senate.

Summerfest is July 5

Last July, Curbside Laundry owner Pete Heuer had five or six friends from Arizona visiting his home on a golfing vacation. The day they took off from golfing, they all went to the inaugural Hayden Valley Summerfest. Heuer's friends said they had so much fun that they planned this year's vacation to coincide with the second annual event -- and they are bringing their friends, too.

After months of negotiations, the Hayden School Board voted June 18 to accept the Hayden Town Board's offer of $54,600 for a piece of land at the intersection of Breeze Basin Boulevard, Poplar Avenue and Third Street.

In the only contested race for the Yampa Valley Electric Association Board of Directors, incumbent Irlan Neas defeated Scott McGill for the District 8 position representing southern Steamboat Springs. Neas won by a vote of 1141-1012.

Meeting the Community's Needs

The developers, including Rob Dick and Mark Halvorson, proposed building a residential neighborhood on 6.27 acres in the vicinity of Steamboat Crossing. Cottagewood would feature 46 residential units, including some live/work spaces designed to meet the needs of small-business owners. The neighborhood, which would be on the south side of U.S. Highway 40 between the highway and the railroad tracks, would be designed primarily for working families. Driving the conceptual idea is the site's proximity to child care, groceries and bus service.

Scholarship is awarded at Routt County Fair

New England defined by charming shopkeepers, cheap lobstah

I was energized by the recent lively discussion over the fate of independent retailing during the Steamboat Economic Summit. I was so fired up that I felt compelled to find out how they do it in New England. We packed our bags and set out on a mission to find out how many interesting shops and indigenous restaurant meals we could discover on a seven-day blitzkrieg through five states.

Columbine takes championship from Northwest Colorado

An artist reception for Rowan Gillespie of Dublin, Ireland will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Sheraton Event Tent near the Sheraton Steamboat Resort pool to celebrate his new work, "Iron Men."

I was calling to ask what is being done about the traffic and the speed bumps on Pamela Lane. It seems to be getting worse every year. The City Council did promise to set an alternate plan in motion and we see absolutely no sign of that. What's going on?

Kiersten Alyse David, daughter of Marissa and John David of Craig, was born at 11:31 a.m. June 9, 2003. She weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Her sibling is Alina. Her grandparents are Robert and Deanna David of Craig, William and Mary Bryant of San Manuel, Ariz., Allison Daniels of Tucson, Ariz., and Tha David of Piccayune, Miss.

It was a Friday afternoon at the end of winter in Steamboat Springs. An all-night baby-sitting job had just been canceled. The night suddenly was free. What would my friend and I decide to do? We brainstormed.

Everyone is familiar with the game "telephone" where players sit in a row and pass a message down the line, each person whispering what they think they heard into the ear of the person next to them. When the message reaches the last player, he or she says it out loud, and usually everyone hears how distorted it became as it was passed along.

Kathy Steinberg has announced that her firm will merge with Prudential. "The opportunity to work with award-winning producers like Pam Vanatta and Cam Boyd is an honor. My husband Erik and I are energized by this move." she said.

In the only contested race for the Yampa Valley Electric Association Board of Directors, incumbent Irlan Neas defeated Scott McGill for the District 8 position representing southern Steamboat Springs. Neas won by a vote of 1141 to 1012.

More than 350 cars were stopped at a DUI checkpoint Friday on U.S. Highway 40 near Milner. The sobriety checkpoint resulted in one arrest for driving under the influence of drugs and one citation for possession of marijuana.

Experiencing scuba 7,000 feet above the sea

Bankers laughed Jim Johnsen out the door, convinced he was a fool for wanting to open a scuba shop in Steamboat Springs, a mountain town nearly 7,000 feet above -- and 1,200 miles from -- the nearest ocean.

The Steamboat Springs 14-and-under baseball team didn't find the wins it wanted but team members and coaches were pleased with the continued progress made during pool play in the weekend's three-day Triple Crown Division II tournament.

The Lowell Whiteman Primary School announced the following students were named to the honor roll for the third trimester. Sixth- through eighth-graders with grades of 85 or above in all classes have earned this honor.

Serious questions were raised about the viability of a multijurisdictional housing authority at a Friday meeting attended by elected officials, Regional Affordable Living Foundation board members and government housing specialists.

Town Board supports changes to Healthy Forest Restoration Act

The Hayden Town Board voted three to one Thursday night to support the views of the Colorado Environmental Coalition that encourages amending the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives and soon to go before the Senate.

County to spray this weekend -- after that, residents are on their own

With swarms of grasshoppers making their presence known, Routt County plans to spray areas along Routt County roads 33 and 46 and U.S. Highway 40 west of town this weekend -- but after that, it's up to people to take care of their own insect problems.

Routt County man will climb Kilimanjaro to help battle cancer

Christopher Morson often heads for Africa and a wildlife safari when he seeks adventure. But when he flies to Africa this fall, his adventure lust will be mixed with a serious mission. Morson plans to climb 19,400-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise funds for prostate cancer research and education.

Board agrees to accept town's offer on district's land

The Hayden School Board decided Wednesday night, after months of difficult negotiations for a land swap, more money, or a track and field facility, to accept the Hayden Town Board's offer of $54,600 for the School District's land at the intersection of Breeze Basin Boulevard, Poplar Avenue and Third Street.

School district wants more communication before implementation

The Colorado Environmental Coalition, an environmental advocacy group, says the Healthy Forest Restoration Act recently drafted by Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Grand Junction, does not adequately protect communities at risk of wildfire damage, according to a letter from the Coalition to the Hayden Town Board.

Customers invited to attend, ask questions

Yampa Valley Electric Association customers are invited to share their concerns and questions, learn more about their electricity provider and find out the results of a director district election Saturday.

Steamboat Springs has a pool of talented young athletes suited to play baseball. What Ski Town USA lacks is sunny, 70-degree spring days that allow players to get on baseball diamonds before early May.

Injured suspect with numerous warrants flees scene

A manhunt ensued after one driver involved in a two-car collision fled the scene about 5:30 p.m. June 17 outside of Phippsburg. The accident happened on Routt County Road 19, near its intersection with County Road 15.

Planning Commission rejects Foote request to split lot

Despite its endorsement by city planning staff, the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission unanimously denied a request from the city's staff attorney to subdivide an Old Town lot into two single-family home sites.

After competing in two separate divisions -- only one of which was planned -- Jim Swiggart, director of the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs, picked up two titles in the recent Intermountain Tennis Association's Senior Sectional Championships.

Broncos start bucking Friday

It's hard for John Shipley to sleep these days. There is simply too much left to do. "I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat," Shipley said. "There are so many details to finish and there is so much work to do at the last minute that it's overwhelming."

Few changes made to Simms' recommendations

The Steamboat Springs Board of Education voted Monday night to keep the Strawberry Park bus route and reduce by half proposed increases to high school athletics fees for both primary sports and privately-funded sports.

Soon-to-be Hayden High School Senior Christina Reck is looking forward to visiting New York City for all the cultural enrichment, the sights and of course the signature hot dogs and "their really flat pizza."

Support for denial
I very definitely support the School Board's stand on denying a Montessori Charter school. If these parents think their children need special attention, there are three private schools here in Steamboat.

Females trapped between sticky floor and glass ceiling

Kaisa Paige Kimmes, daughter of Angela and Mike Kimmes of Steamboat Springs, was born at 3:45 p.m. May 22, 2003. She weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and was 18 inches long. Her grandparents are Robert and Dianne Kimmes of Merriweather, Mich., and David and Gloria of Wakefield, Mich.

David Freseman is pleased that he had a hand in coordinating a hot spot to socialize in Steamboat Springs. He means the LIFT-UP community garden on Fourth and Oak streets, which has drawn a number of residents to gossip while they garden.

Jupiter Jones launches Pedicab taxi service

Jupiter Jones has been an avid biker for a long time. Now, he wants to take people for a ride with him. Jones recently purchased a pedicab -- a bicycle with a small cab attached to it. Jones' and his wife's new business, Steamboat Pedicabs, offers local rides as well as historical tours and rides for special engagements like weddings. Jones can already be seen pedaling the pedicab around town, passengers in tow.

Steamboat Springs faculty members move on to retirement

Perry recalls county's past, points to books to learn more

Mary Jean Perry has roots in Routt County. While sitting at her desk in the tiny, two-room Toponas Public Library adjacent to her home, she has a perfect view of King Mountain, which is named after her grandfather, Preston King.

Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, announced Wednesday that the Resources Committee would hold a legislative hearing next week on a bill to battle chronic wasting disease.

Prichard earns trip to Sin City with Town Challenge win

The only thing better than taking a Las Vegas vacation is winning one, so Ian Prichard was excited -- and a bit tired -- after crossing the finish line at the Thunderhead Hill Climb in record time Wednesday night to earn a trip to Sin City.

Tuesday, June 10

Going against City Planning Commission's recommendation, the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow the owners of Sundance Plaza to pay $38,000 instead of building a sidewalk along the south side of Anglers Drive.

Building will sit south of Routt County Jail

School Board forms group to choose superintendent

As the mother of three Steamboat Springs Middle School students and the executive director of Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Sue Birch says she has valuable perspectives on Steamboat Springs School District issues.

The state budget will have continuing difficulties, according to a fiscal policy analyst who spoke Tuesday at the Colorado Counties Inc. 21st annual summer conference. The problems will not be caused by the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and slumping economy alone, he said.

The agreement between the Steamboat Springs City Council and the Mount Werner Water and Sanitation District to form a water and wastewater commission is a sensible idea if it isn't derailed in a dispute over commission appointees.

Program offers chance to own home

People who wish to participate in a federal program that will make home ownership in Steamboat Springs a reality must throw their back into it -- literally. The Regional Affordable Living Foundation is bringing the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program to the Yampa Valley. The seven families who qualify to participate will build their own homes.

Thunderhead race a favorite for local riders

Jenny Allen couldn't help but feel a little odd while standing near the top of the Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Tuesday morning.
While her friends in Steamboat were out biking, playing soccer or basking in the Yampa Valley's 75-degree sunshine, she was standing on melting snow at a ski racing camp.

Motorists might be curious about what is happening on U.S. Highway 40 in front of the Stockbridge Multi-Modal Transit Center. Pedestrian crosswalk lanes have been painted and light posts have been put up.
The writing, so to speak, is already on the street: A new traffic light is going in on Steamboat's west side.

Deal allows post office to recycle undeliverable mail

The piles of undeliverable mail that stack up at Steamboat Springs' downtown post office usually end up in the trash bin.
But for the past month, through a deal between Waste Management and the post office -- with help from Yampa Valley Recycles -- that mail has found its way into a 4-cubic-yard recycling container.

Findings critical of tax-limiting amendment

At tonight's City Council meeting, The Bell Policy Center will present its study on the impact the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR) has had on the state in the last 10 years. The County Commissioners and members from county school districts will also be there.

Community recommendations to go before city, county

City and county officials will be asked this week if they are willing to follow the community's direction in updating the Steamboat Springs Area Plan. If the two planning commissions, city council and county commissioners agree with community input gathered during the area plan update process, consultants will begin working on a draft of the plan.

A sidewalk debate has delayed plans for renovating Sundance Plaza. Today, the City Planning Commission will hold a special meeting to decide whether it should give a sidewalk variance to the shopping center's owner, AlpenGlow Ventures, LLC.

Adolescence a critical time for girls

The decision by the largest landowners in the West of Steamboat Springs Area Plan to subdivide their 538-acre parcel into 35-acre lots is a wakeup call for the city of Steamboat Springs, Routt County and others interested in controlling Steamboat's growth to the west.

Pay for Montessori yourself Unfortunately, the proposed Montessori school does not plan to serve all of the potential students here in Routt County. Children with learning disabilities will be served only at our existing public schools. Sounds like a private school to me. Pay for it yourself.

After years of second-guessing some of sports' greatest minds from the comforts of my favorite armchair, I finally got my first chance to guide a talented group of young athletes to greatness last week.

Wes Adams, owner of the Motherwell Ranch, has acquired the neighboring Wyman Elk Ranch for $8 million. The 5,911-acre ranch had been in the Wyman family for more than 80 years. Lou Wyman grew up on the ranch and raised his family there. Now, his aspirations lay outside of ranching, said Penny Fletcher, one of the brokers who listed the property. Fletcher and Troy Brookshire, both from Colorado Group Realty Inc., co-listed the ranch.

Steamboat Springs-based Schaefer Outfitter was in some heady company late last month when it collected three national marketing awards at the Western and English Trade Association industry conference in Hutchison, Island, Fla.

Steve Kennedy traveled to the Target in Silverthorne recently and returned unscathed. Kennedy and his wife, Daniela, purchased The Homesteader, a high-quality kitchen equipment store on Steamboat Springs' Lincoln Avenue, almost three years ago.

For the past three years, the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program has removed more than 200 non-native fish from a section of the Yampa River west of Hayden and put them in a nearby pond. But when the river rose this spring, all the efforts were essentially ruined.

Two days after Superintendent Cyndy Simms announced $332,000 in recommended Steamboat Springs School District budget cuts, including the end of paid release time for the Steamboat Springs Education Association president, Mike Smith announced his resignation.

River produces more water than people are using

The surge of snowmelt that coursed down the Yampa River last weekend made news in Steamboat Springs and did not go unheeded by water managers in Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. The Yampa carries more uncommitted water than any other river in Colorado.

35-acre plots interfere with West Steamboat plans

The largest landholders in the West Steamboat area have platted their land into 35-acre lots, which could put major kinks in the community's plans to develop Steamboat's next high-density neighborhoods.

Some of the flowers coloring roadsides and covering the hillsides do not belong there. Several species of weeds were accidentally imported from overseas and are destroying Routt County's native plants.

Man was clocked going 85 mph

Steamboat Springs High School Athletics Director Bruce Crowhurst was in disbelief Tuesday when he went to the Colorado Associate of School Executives Web site: There, he found a job listing for the position he resigned from two weeks ago after he was told it would be eliminated to cut costs.

Man gets creative to sell trailer

The water focus group will meet with the Steamboat Springs City Council and Mount Werner Water District Board today to discuss progress the group has made since it was formed at the beginning of the year.

Superintendent candidate field will be reduced

The Steamboat Springs Board of Education will narrow a field of nearly 50 superintendent applicants to between three and five finalists at its June 16 board meeting, President Paul Fisher said Tuesday.

The preliminary draft of the Routt County Housing Needs Assessment offered telling statistics that underscore the benefits a multi-jurisdictional housing authority could bring not only to Steamboat Springs, but also Northwest Colorado.

The preliminary draft of the Routt County Housing Needs Assessment offered telling statistics that underscore the benefits a multi-jurisdictional housing authority could bring not only to Steamboat Springs, but also Northwest Colorado.

Construction begins on 2004 site, signifying music festival's staying power

When Mick Barnhart visited the vacant land near the intersection of Mount Werner and Pine Grove roads more than a year ago, he strode directly to center stage and tried to imagine a string quartet. Then he set up a sophisticated decibel meter and listened closely for coal trains, jake brakes on semitrailers and diesel pickups pulling away from the nearby stoplight. What he heard -- or what he didn't hear -- was enough to tell him that a performing arts tent could work on the site.

Traffic on upper Fish Creek Falls Road (Routt County Road 32) will be significantly curtailed until between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. because of utility construction. Traffic above Deer Clover Lane will be allowed to pass on the hour, for 15 minutes only. County officials suggest affected drivers arrive at the control points on the hour. The delays are expected to continue through June.

The elimination of the transportation secretary position, two school aides, overtime costs and a bus route were among Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Cyndy Simms' recommendations to cut the district's budget by $332,000 for the 2003-04 school fiscal year.

The half-inch of rain that soaked Steamboat Springs on Sunday put the exclamation point on a memorable spring runoff. Routt County Emergency Preparedness Director Chuck Vale announced Monday that the Yampa River likely has peaked for the season.

Enjoyment of a deck is high on the priority list of most homeowners. Joy turns to drudgery, however, when homeowners must abandon cushy deck chairs to deal with the realities of wood decks: split boards, nails that pop up, and faded stains or paint.

A common decorating dilemma is how to lift the spirit of a room. There are several ways, but the best solution is lighting. It's easy, it's affordable, it adds dramatic design elements and it even upgrades the value of a home.

In the early 1980s, we installed post lights along our driveway. We lived on a flag lot then, and the driveway was about 200 feet long. The lights were spaced approximately 10 feet apart and were buried in concrete.

Did you hear the subtle sounds of the brush hitting drums behind Ornette Coleman's trumpet? Of course you didn't. Those cabinet speakers you've been listening to since college aren't as good as they used to be.

canoe found overturned and tangled in brush along a stretch of the Yampa River is being treated as lost property, not a sign of a missing person or persons, according to Routt County Search and Rescue.

Independent retailers are a treasure that help Steamboat Springs stand out

I thought of Dorothy Wither last week while I sat in the ballroom of the Steamboat Grand Hotel and Conference Center. An image of her beehive hairdo popped into my head while I listened to the experts debate the future of commerce in Steamboat Springs.

Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Cyndy Simms will announce her recommendations to eliminate an estimated $500,000 deficit in the district's budget at tonight's School Board study session.

Believe it or not, volunteers are counting grasshoppers this spring in designated areas throughout Routt County. If we experience another dry spring such as last year, we can expect to be inundated with grasshoppers again this summer.

Centrally located in the northwest Colorado Rockies, Kremmling boasts easy access by air or ground transportation. Its full-service, instrument approach airport (elevation 7,364 feet), an AMTRAK station in nearby Granby, and all-weather U.S. Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 9 make Kremmling a convenient destination, just two hours from Denver.

Tuckered out hikers, bikers and kayakers -- look no further. The Tread of Pioneers Museum offers a respite for the recreation-weary. Northwest Colorado offers a surplus of recreational amenities, but visitors shouldn't pass up its cultural and historical resources.

May 3 -- 18th Annual Spirit Challenge. A 5k run/walk and 10k run. 5k run/walk is a scenic, rolling on and off road loop. 10k is out uphill and back downhill through Strawberry Park. Call (970) 871-9602

The snow may have melted and the ski lifts are long since closed, but a wealth of recreational and educational activities for local and visiting children are offered throughout the summer in the Steamboat Springs area.

The Steamboat Springs Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services offers summer youth camps for children in preschool through eighth grades. Camps run weekdays all summer long beginning June 9 and ending Aug. 22. See specific camps for days and hours.

West of Steamboat Springs, the town of Hayden (population 1,500) offers several restaurants, bars, retail shops and even a museum, as well as a handful of recreational opportunities with a flavor slightly different than that of Ski Town USA.

With engines bellowing and dirt flying, the racers who blast around the Hayden Speedway zoom through a Saturday evening, keeping the crowds and themselves energized and excited with their driving and daring. The speed, the barely-make-it-through moves and turns, the close finishes and dominant blow-outs, the crashes and bumps all add up to thrill the fans, drivers and nervous family members with the power and passion of racing.

Mick Havrilla has seen his share of uses for the Yampa Valley River in the 15 years he has been floating it. "I've seen everything from a family trip to outfitters bringing big groups," said the Craig resident." It is a versatile river for all ages."

The Museum of Northwest Colorado began as the Moffat County Museum in 1964. Until 1990, it was housed in the Moffat County Courthouse. In 1991 it opened at its new location at 590 Yampa Ave. in the former Colorado State Armory.

Fishing should be good in Northwest Colorado this summer, according to one local fisherman. Burt Clements, a member of the local Bass Masters Association, said one hot spot this year should be Stagecoach Reservoir in northwest Routt County.

Bill Martin can't cook, so he has no set idea on how a kitchen should look. Instead, Martin listens to what his clients want and tries to incorporate their desires and his expertise into every one of his original designs.

When the snow melts, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. doesn't shut down. The mountain hosts a variety of activities in Gondola Square and shuttles visitors to the top of the gondola for hiking, biking and dining.

The snow melts away from the bottom of the ski mountain and the white Strings in the Mountains tent takes its place. The Strings in the Mountains Festival opens in June and hosts a full calendar of music through August.

"Park-n-play" is one of the strongest trends in whitewater kayaking, and it's thriving in downtown Steamboat. There was a time when kayakers had to drive great distances and paddle through long stretches of flat water to get to their favorite standing waves. No more.

The U.S. Forest Service, which manages the land surrounding Fish Creek Falls, estimates that 100,000 people visit the falls every year. The 283-foot cascading waterfall is a winter's worth of snowmelt crashing over a cliff into the canyon creek below.

The Yampa River Botanic Park is billed as "a place of serenity." The six acre property is just yards away from the road, but feels miles away from the rest of the town. The park is free to visit and the goal is to keep it free, park director Gayle Noonan said.

It's the time of year to swap boards for bikes. The change of seasons means some of the best biking trails around are drying out. Steamboat Springs is home to plenty of gearheads. The town's proximity to the Routt National Forest makes it a prime gateway to a memorable afternoon or all-day riding experience.

Steamboat Lake State Park has gained national recognition for the beauty of its campgrounds. And it's an obvious destination for trout fishermen in Northwest Colorado. What people may not realize is that the impoundment 30 miles northwest of Steamboat Springs has become the repository of thousands of "extra" fingerling trout that could produce a fishing bonanza for several years to come.

Last year, the air was thick and dry with the smell of wildfire smoke, and grasshoppers parted with every step like the Red Sea, but still people danced. The free summer concert series brought listeners to concerts at both Howelsen Hill and the base of Headwall at Steamboat Ski Area.

A short drive north from Steamboat Springs on Routt County Road 129 welcomes travelers to Steamboat Lake State Park, a popular and beautiful summer destination that offers an abundance of recreational opportunities.

Saitta forced to drop out with stress fracture

Jason Saitta knows how it feels to run alone on County Road 129, so he hung on, stress fracture and all, for seven miles, pushing John Raveling to a top finish in the 22nd annual Steamboat Marathon on Sunday.

"The widow she cried over me, and called me a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it. She put me in them new clothes again, and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up," Huckleberry Finn said in Mark Twain's classic.

Matt Custer, Routt County's weed supervisor, has asked all residents of Routt County to be on the lookout for meadow knapweed and tamarisk. These invasive and noxious plants are top priority this year for detection and control.

When it comes to a healthy Routt County lawn, it's the stuff you don't see that makes the biggest difference. While the merits of various grass species can be debated a hundred times over, the fate of a lawn is often determined by the quality of the top soil, said Jeff Crochiere, owner of SOL Solutions, a Steamboat Springs-based lawn and tree care company.

There's good news and bad news about growing vegetables in the Yampa Valley. The good news is the valley has the most predictable weather pattern of any location in Colorado, so gardeners can easily and accurately plan when to plant their crops, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Office.